fun on a hot afternoon

click picture to see video. Sometimes when the mind gets tangled up in confusion, it helps to do a little ritual with food and drink. It's often hard to know how much to explain and how much not to explain. When in doubt, say as little as possible. Focus on doing whatever you set out to do. This is what Lohbado learned at the Moronovian Tabernacle during a session on managing anxiety.


A nasty variety of anxiety is the kind that occurs for no apparent reason. It's the kind where you would be told to take medication. Lohbado's medication is alcohol, in moderation. It takes the edge off nervous tension. For Lohbado, the side effects of light drinking were negligible. He could act silly and maybe talk too much. But then, when alone, the only person to talk to is yourself, or to a video camera, or to write it down. Lohbado's favourite writing implements were a dip pen and ink, or when out and about, a fountain pen. The beauty of being retired, nobody cares what you do, as long as you don't harm anyone. Don't be obnoxious. Be friendly and low key.

A powerful antidote to anxiety is exercise, healthy eating, going out to enjoy sites and sounds, walking around, riding a bicycle, relaxing in the park. To cut mental nattering, look at things. Appreciate details. Try to see what is in the visual field, as opposed to spacing out or glossing over things. Lohbado loved to sit on a bench and slowly examine various trees, city buildings, the sky. There's an interesting variety of sound in a city, mostly a roaring wash of white noise. Within the white noise, one can listen to acceleration and de-acceleration of motors, beeping sounds, power tools, lawn mowers, road construction and building renovation sounds. No need to listen to headphones. Soundscape of the city contains layers of sonic detail.